Arrested chef, wife accused of embezzling $130,000

Published: Friday, March 29, 2013 at 1:05 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, March 29, 2013 at 1:05 p.m.

A former Wilmington chef and his wife, who abruptly left the Port City in May, were arrested Thursday in Austin, Texas, on a warrant charging them with embezzling from Manna Restaurant where the husband was part owner.

According to a press release from the U.S. Marshals-led Lonestar Fugitive Task Force in Texas, Jacob Hilbert, 37, and Lynda Kaye Hilbert, 33, were arrested Thursday in Austin.

Task force spokesman Hector Gomez said the Hilberts had been under surveillance and were taken into custody as they returned to their rental home Thursday night. At least one child with them was turned over to family.

Gomez said the Austin-based task force was alerted to the Hilberts' presence in the central Texas area by the U.S. Marshals Service in Wilmington.

"The Hilberts were identified as recent arrivals pursuing several opportunities as an executive chef," the release states.

According to the Wilmington Police Department warrant issued in December, the couple stands accused of embezzling more than $130,000 from Manna Restaurant from March 2011 to May 2012.

Jacob Hilbert was part owner of the downtown Wilmington restaurant with Billy Mellon. Mellon, who still runs the business, declined to comment on the arrests, saying only that he'd heard Thursday the two had been arrested.

Gomez said the Hilberts are being held without bail in the Travis County jail awaiting extradition to North Carolina.

A July article in the Greater Wilmington Business Journal announcing a new chef at Manna characterizes Jacob Hilbert's departure from the restaurant as "mysterious."

A September article on AskMissA.com, an online magazine, announced Hilbert as the new head chef at a restaurant in Austin named Zed's.

<p>A former Wilmington chef and his wife, who abruptly left the Port City in May, were arrested Thursday in Austin, Texas, on a warrant charging them with embezzling from Manna Restaurant where the husband was part owner.</p><p>According to a press release from the U.S. Marshals-led Lonestar Fugitive Task Force in Texas, Jacob Hilbert, 37, and Lynda Kaye Hilbert, 33, were arrested Thursday in Austin. </p><p>Task force spokesman Hector Gomez said the Hilberts had been under surveillance and were taken into custody as they returned to their rental home Thursday night. At least one child with them was turned over to family. </p><p>Gomez said the Austin-based task force was alerted to the Hilberts' presence in the central Texas area by the U.S. Marshals Service in Wilmington.</p><p>"The Hilberts were identified as recent arrivals pursuing several opportunities as an executive chef," the release states. </p><p>According to the Wilmington Police Department warrant issued in December, the couple stands accused of embezzling more than $130,000 from Manna Restaurant from March 2011 to May 2012.</p><p>Jacob Hilbert was part owner of the downtown Wilmington restaurant with Billy Mellon. Mellon, who still runs the business, declined to comment on the arrests, saying only that he'd heard Thursday the two had been arrested.</p><p>Gomez said the Hilberts are being held without bail in the Travis County jail awaiting extradition to North Carolina. </p><p>A July article in the Greater Wilmington Business Journal announcing a new chef at Manna characterizes Jacob Hilbert's departure from the restaurant as "mysterious."</p><p>A September article on AskMissA.com, an online magazine, announced Hilbert as the new head chef at a restaurant in Austin named Zed's.</p><p><i></p><p>F.T. Norton: 343-2070</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @FTNorton</i></p>